Parks Victoria is investigating the unauthorised construction of bike trails in The Gurdies Nature Conservation Reserve.
By Catherine Watson
FIRST it was the Wonthaggi Bushland Reserve, then the Cape Woolamai foreshore. Now mountain bike riders are cutting a swathe through The Gurdies Nature Conservation Reserve, threatening colonies of rare orchids.
While there have always been a few illegal riders in the reserve, over the winter months it has reached a whole new scale, with an extensive network of circuits constructed with named jumps, switchbacks and drops.
FIRST it was the Wonthaggi Bushland Reserve, then the Cape Woolamai foreshore. Now mountain bike riders are cutting a swathe through The Gurdies Nature Conservation Reserve, threatening colonies of rare orchids.
While there have always been a few illegal riders in the reserve, over the winter months it has reached a whole new scale, with an extensive network of circuits constructed with named jumps, switchbacks and drops.
Local naturalist Dick Wettenhall, who has monitored rare native orchid colonies in the reserve for many years, says the escalation of mountain bike and motorised trail bike riding is destroying substantial areas of environmentally significant habitat.
The circuit’s main bike jumps track passes through one of only the two known sites in the reserve for the orange tip fingers orchid, and a small cluster of the rarely seen twisted sun orchid.
A recently constructed trail encompasses one of the most significant habitats for several exotic and endangered species of orchids, including tongue- and heart-lip spider-orchids and the endangered small orangetip fingers small caladenia orchid.
A cluster of endangered, green-striped leafy tall greenhood orchids is also under threat. This species is so rare that it is listed as vulnerable by the Australian Government Environment and Biodiversity Protection Act and as a threatened species by the Victorian Government Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.
The circuit’s main bike jumps track passes through one of only the two known sites in the reserve for the orange tip fingers orchid, and a small cluster of the rarely seen twisted sun orchid.
A recently constructed trail encompasses one of the most significant habitats for several exotic and endangered species of orchids, including tongue- and heart-lip spider-orchids and the endangered small orangetip fingers small caladenia orchid.
A cluster of endangered, green-striped leafy tall greenhood orchids is also under threat. This species is so rare that it is listed as vulnerable by the Australian Government Environment and Biodiversity Protection Act and as a threatened species by the Victorian Government Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.
 Orangetip fingers orchid. Photos: Dick Wettenhall |  Green-striped leafy tall greenhood orchid |
Parks Victoria, which manages the reserve, said it was unaware of the damage until it was contacted by the Post. It’s now investigating the matter.
A spokesperson said mountain biking was permitted on designated vehicle tracks and approved mountain biking tracks in most parks and reserves across Victoria.
The construction of unauthorised mountain bike trails is illegal and can damage valuable habitat for native species, cause soil erosion impacting on waterways and sensitive vegetation and potentially impact on Aboriginal Cultural heritage places.
If you witness illegal mountain bike riding, you can contact Parks Victoria on 13 1963 or Victoria Police.
This is the latest chapter in a long history of conflict between local BMX, trail and mountain bike riders and environmentalists over the construction of illegal tracks in Bass Coast.
In July the council bulldozed an illegal BMX track in foreshore vegetation at Cleeland Bight, Cape Woolamai, amid concerns about community safety and environmental damage.
Similar clearances had been carried out in the same location several times over the past 20 years.
The destruction prompted a petition of 706 signatures to the council asking that local riders be allowed to rebuild the Cape Woolamai track if they did not damage vegetation.
For over 40 years, young kids have enjoyed pedalling their bikes around the bumps and berms of the well worn track in the Cape Woolamai foreshore at the end of Cronulla Avenue.
… We are seeking to rebuild the track so that current and future generations can continue to enjoy it.
There are currently two formal BMX tracks, in Inverloch and Coronet Bay, but no formal mountain bike trails.
The council recently established a Mountain Bike/BMX/Pump Track Reference Group to explore suitable locations for new sites across the shire. This includes ensuring jumps and skills tracks are built on suitable land that does not contravene planning or land management requirements, cause environmental impacts or compromise public safety.
A spokesperson said mountain biking was permitted on designated vehicle tracks and approved mountain biking tracks in most parks and reserves across Victoria.
The construction of unauthorised mountain bike trails is illegal and can damage valuable habitat for native species, cause soil erosion impacting on waterways and sensitive vegetation and potentially impact on Aboriginal Cultural heritage places.
If you witness illegal mountain bike riding, you can contact Parks Victoria on 13 1963 or Victoria Police.
This is the latest chapter in a long history of conflict between local BMX, trail and mountain bike riders and environmentalists over the construction of illegal tracks in Bass Coast.
In July the council bulldozed an illegal BMX track in foreshore vegetation at Cleeland Bight, Cape Woolamai, amid concerns about community safety and environmental damage.
Similar clearances had been carried out in the same location several times over the past 20 years.
The destruction prompted a petition of 706 signatures to the council asking that local riders be allowed to rebuild the Cape Woolamai track if they did not damage vegetation.
For over 40 years, young kids have enjoyed pedalling their bikes around the bumps and berms of the well worn track in the Cape Woolamai foreshore at the end of Cronulla Avenue.
… We are seeking to rebuild the track so that current and future generations can continue to enjoy it.
There are currently two formal BMX tracks, in Inverloch and Coronet Bay, but no formal mountain bike trails.
The council recently established a Mountain Bike/BMX/Pump Track Reference Group to explore suitable locations for new sites across the shire. This includes ensuring jumps and skills tracks are built on suitable land that does not contravene planning or land management requirements, cause environmental impacts or compromise public safety.